Issue 1,126 – The Burmis Tree – April 10, 2023
Some people have claimed that this is the most photographed tree in Canada. I don’t know if this is true, but I have stopped here more than once and looked for the tree many times as I drove by it on the Trans-Canada Highway.
Located in Alberta’s Crowsnest Pass, the Burmis tree (named after the community it is found in) is a limber pine.
Limber pines are slow-growing, hardy trees particularly suited for harsh environments. There isn’t much else left to see of Burmis, a once prosperous little mining community, other than the tree.
Although it is believed to be around 750 years old, the tree died in the late 1970s. Vandals have attacked the tree several times, and today it still “stands” with human assistance and some support poles.
As long-lived as the tree was, besides being a reminder of times gone by and a cool tree to photograph, it doesn’t offer much. Dead things may impact us for a while, but their influence wanes and fades with time.
That is one of the reasons that Jesus’ resurrection remains such a big deal. If Jesus had been a minor Jewish leader crucified for his troubles and died, staying in the grave, there would be no Christianity. At best, his life would be a footnote in the history books about a 1st-century Jewish sect, perhaps not even that.
He didn’t stay in the tomb. He was resurrected from the grave and seen by hundreds of people in various places and times. The borrowed tomb is empty!
The Christian responsive greeting of “He is risen!” with an echoed reply of “He is risen indeed!” is both a historical fact and a promise of future things.
Jesus lived a sinless life qualifying Him as the spotless lamb sacrificed to make atonement for our sins. His death paid the price for our guilt, and His resurrection proved His claims.
He is coming back for His church. We don’t know exactly when, but Jesus promised to return. As one cartoonist said, “We don’t know when He is returning. We are on the welcoming committee, not the planning committee.”
The knowledge of His imminent return spurs us on to live lives worthy of our calling as followers.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” Mark 13:31-37
He is coming back suddenly. No one knows precisely when.
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
The Christ isn’t a monument to a dead sect. He is the living, breathing, sovereign ruler of the universe. He came once to redeem us. He is returning as judge of the world.
We serve at His pleasure.
May you be found faithful when He returns.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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